Chapter 25 TWENTY FIVE
I was brutally awoken by a thundering bang, followed by several less intense knocks, I pulled the blanket over my shoulders, quickly noticing the pale ink gown by the bottom of the bed. Had the healer already been? Had I slept through it all?
I climbed to my feet, pleased when nothing hurt nor ached, hurriedly throwing the dress over my exposed body and walking towards the door; not sure what to expect.
“Wake up filthy witch!” Came a vicious voice, the voice of a vampire I didn’t recognise, though I could sense it was an undead creature.
I stopped just before the door, too afraid to open it in case it wasn’t one of Silas’ men. “I’m awake.” I shouted out; my tone sterner than it was meant to be.
“I am to escort you to Prince Silas immediately.” The voice boomed. “As to what he wants with you is beyond me.” Which was said under his breath.
“Why did he not come for me himself?” I asked through the shut door, still fearful of opening it.
“He is currently in a meeting with an ally.” he growled, annoyed by my defiance. "That is where I am taking you, now move.”
I slowly opened the door, avoiding eye contact with the vampire as he turned off to the right, storming down the corridor as the rushed to keep his pace; almost running.
i only just managed to keep up with the undead creature, I lifted the bottom of the gown after nearly falling over the fabric, panting slightly as we moved through the castle.
He said nothing else to me as we walked, my curiosity getting the better of me as I attempted something, something that I should not be doing; my heart racing as I slipped unnoticed into his mind.
I didn’t know if I would succeed or not, but as his thoughts flooded my own; I smiled, my heart filling with pride. His mind was filled with anger over having to escort me to the prince, he hated all witches and saw no need in keeping them around; he would prefer them all to be dead. Rid the world of my kind and ensure that no one with magic would roam freely.
I scowled at the back of his head; how dare he think such a thing?
How dare he wish nothing but death upon my kind, we had done nothing to deserve such hatred; he was simply jealous that he himself had no power. That he couldn’t do what witches and warlocks could.
I was tempted to open my mouth, to question his reasons for believing in such such things, but I couldn’t; doing so would reveal my power and I knew that Silas would be furious should I do so.
I was excited at the prospect of being able to read the mind of all vampires, but I tried not to show it.
This that would help Silas with whatever he had planned, it would help him know who he could trust and who wished to betray him.
I smiled again, looking down at the ground as we approached the place where the prince was, my mind could feel his, I could feel the impatience and annoyance whilst waiting for me.
I mutely let the prince know that I would be arriving shortly and that I had something to tell him; something that would greatly please him.
I could feel the confusion he felt enter my thoughts as I drew closer, but I didn’t allow him to see what I was thinking, I wanted it to be a surprise.
I wanted to see the look on his face when I told him what I could do. The guard stopped just outside a small meeting room; the door slightly ajar as he knocked, waiting to be called in.
“Send her in!” Came the voice which could only belong to the prince.
I entered alone; the guard not being permitted to enter such an important room, his anger only increasing as I detached from his mind, leaving him with his own thoughts.
I shut the door behind me, a gentle smile stitched across my face as I bowed to the three creatures that were in the confined meeting room, getting down onto one knee.
I only recognised two of the three, Silas and Ezio stood together whilst another woman sat across the table, she stood as I lowered my eyes; barely having a chance to get a good look at her. But I knew she was one of them, I could sense her mind; the disgust she felt at having to be in the presence of such a young witch.
“Master.” I greeted the prince, staying knelt on the ground.
“Greetings Fraulein.” Silas said slowly, his tone very formal. “Please stand, I wish for you to meet Marianne Scarlette, Daughter of Penelope Scarlette.”
I stood as he asked of me, smiling towards the woman. “Hello Ma'am.”
“Don’t be so formal, you can call me Marie.” She smiled back at me, though I could tell from her mind that she didn’t exactly want me to call her anything; nor did she wish to be in the same room as me.
“Alright.” I whispered, only just managing to hold my smile in place.
I glanced over Marianne Scarlette, her silver-coloured hair cascading in waves down the sides of her breasts and her aquamarine eyes unable to stay locked onto me; often darting to the prince and Ezio.
She had a slender and yet curved body and stood at about five-foot-two, her sharp pointed nose and high cheek bones perfectly sculpting her features. I found her elegant, and yet rebellious; she didn’t like being told what to do and she certainly didn’t appreciate anyone being stronger than her magically or otherwise.
Her mind was littered with annoyance, she didn’t quite know why she was here and why she had to meet with me; becoming more impatient as time pressed on.
Silas placed a hand onto my shoulder, forcing my attention away from the female vampire as he spoke; “Why didn’t you let me in earlier, Fraulein?”
Marianne’s face turned like she had eaten something sour; “What do you mean, let you in? Let you in where? Her chambers? Are you so desperate Silas, you know I'm not that far away to pay you a special visit?”
The prince turned to scowl at his guest. “I am not having intercourse with her; I mean the mind link that we share.”
“A mind link? But witches cannot read the minds of Vampires.” Marianne protested.
Boy, if that's what she believed, she was in for a big shock.